NHL On Tap: Ovechkin needs two goals to tie Jagr for third in NHL history

Welcome to the NHL On Tap. Three NHL.com writers will share what they are most looking forward to on the schedule each day. Today, their choices from the 11 games on Tuesday.

Ovechkin has sights set on Jagr

Alex Ovechkin will try to climb the NHL all-time goal scoring list when the Washington Capitals visit the Calgary Flames on Tuesday (9 p.m. ET; SNW, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Ovechkin, who has scored goals in consecutive games, is two from tying Jaromir Jagr (766) for third most in NHL history. The Capitals forward is fourth in the NHL this season with 34 goals and has scored five goals in his past seven games. Washington (30-18-9) has won two straight and begins a three-game road trip. The Flames (34-14-7) have won two in a row and are 14-1-1 in their past 16 after a 3-1 win at home against the Edmonton Oilers on Monday. -- Jim Cerny, senior editor

Robertson, Stars look to stay hot

Jason Robertson is hot and so are the Dallas Stars entering the finale of a three-game road trip at the Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Robertson has scored seven goals in his past three games and a hat trick in consecutive games, helping to power Dallas (32-20-3) to four straight wins. The forward scored three goals in Dallas' 6-3 win against the Minnesota Wild on Sunday to become the fourth active NHL player to score a hat trick in two straight games, joining Alex Ovechkin (Jan. 16-18), Noel Acciari (Dec. 16-20, 2019) and Filip Forsberg (Feb. 21-23, 2017). The Predators (31-20-4) are one point behind the streaking Stars in the Central Division after they defeated the San Jose Sharks 8-0 Saturday. Despite the win, Nashville has lost six of its past nine. -- William Douglas, staff writer

Matthews looks to continue goal-scoring spree

Auston Matthews has reached 40 goals for the third straight season and narrowed his sights on establishing an NHL career high. The forward can continue moving in that direction when the Toronto Maple Leafs (36-16-4) host the Seattle Kraken (7:30 p.m. ET; TSN4, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE). Matthews leads the NHL after scoring his 40th goal in a 5-4 win against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday and is seven shy of his 2019-20 high-water mark of 47. The Kraken (17-36-5) hope to take advantage of the Maple Leafs playing the second game of a back-to-back set but are also in a tough stretch themselves, preparing for their third game in a run that will see them play five games in eight days. -- Dave Stubbs, NHL.com columnist

Tuesday schedule

Colorado Avalanche at New Jersey Devils (7 p.m. ET; MSG+, ALT, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Defenseman Cale Makar has scored 19 points (two goals, 17) assists in a 12-game point streak and forward Nathan MacKinnon has scored eight goals in eight games for the Avalanche (41-11-5), who are 5-1-1 in their past seven and coming off a 5-4 win against the New York Islanders on Monday. Forward Jack Hughes has scored 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in the past 10 games for the Devils (20-31-5), who play the second of four-game homestand after a 3-2 overtime win against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday.
Vegas Golden Knights at Philadelphia Flyers (7 p.m. ET; TVAS, NBCSP, ATTSN-RM, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Jonathan Marchessault has scored seven points (four goals, three assists) in a five-game point streak and goals in three consecutive games for Vegas (32-21-4), which starts a five-game road trip. Forward Cam Atkinson has scored five points (three goals, two assists) in the past four games for Philadelphia (17-28-10), which defeated Vegas 4-3 on the road Dec. 10.
Florida Panthers at Pittsburgh Penguins (7 p.m. ET: SNE, SNO, SNP, ATTSN-PT, BSFL, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Aleksander Barkov has scored 13 points (four goals, nine assists) in the past seven games for the Panthers (38-13-3), who won their third straight game, 6-1 at the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. Forward Sidney Crosby has scored goals in three straight games and eight points (four goals, four assists) in a six-game point streak for the Penguins (34-14-9), who are 3-0-1 in their past four games.
Seattle Kraken at Toronto Maple Leafs (7:30 p.m. ET; TSN4, ROOT-NW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Seattle has scored two or fewer goals in 33 of 58 games this season and is 2-28-3 when that happens. Toronto forward Mitchell Marner has scored 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in a seven-game point streak.
Arizona Coyotes at Detroit Red Wings (7:30 p.m. ET; ESPN+, HULU, NHL LIVE)
Coyotes forward Nick Schmaltz is coming off a seven-point game (two goals, five assists) in an 8-5 win against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday and has scored 14 points (six goals, eight assists) in the past six games. Arizona (16-35-4) has won two in a row. Forward Jakub Vrana is expected to make his season debut for Detroit (24-26-6) after having shoulder surgery during training camp.
Ottawa Senators at St. Louis Blues (8 p.m. ET; BSMW, TSN5, RDS, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Forward Jordan Kyrou has scored 10 points (four goals, six assists) in a seven-game point streak for the Blues (32-16-7), who've lost three in a row (0-2-1). St. Louis forward Brayden Schenn is two points from 500 in the NHL. Defenseman Thomas Chabot has scored seven points (two goals, five assists) in the past five games for the Senators (19-31-5), who have lost the first four of their five-game road trip.
Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators (8 p.m. ET; BSSO, BSSW, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
This is the fourth and final meeting this season between these Central Division rivals. The Predators are 2-1-0 in the season series, including a 2-1 win in Nashville on Feb. 24. Forwards Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz have scored five of Dallas' seven goals in the three games.
New York Rangers at Minnesota Wild (8 p.m. ET; BSN, BSWIX, MSG, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Defenseman Adam Fox has six assists in a four-game point streak for the Rangers (36-15-5), who have won three in a row and began their four-game road trip with a 4-1 win at the Winnipeg Jets on Sunday. Forward Kirill Kaprizov has scored eight points (five goals, three assists) in a five-game point streak for the Wild (32-19-3), who have lost six of seven.
Tampa Bay Lightning at Winnipeg Jets (8 p.m. ET; TSN3, BSSUN, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Defenseman Zach Bogosion could return to the lineup for the Lightning (37-12-6) after missing 15 games with a lower-body injury. The Jets (24-22-10) close out a four-game homestand; they are 1-1-1 in the first three.
Anaheim Ducks at Chicago Blackhawks (8:30 p.m. ET; NBCSCH, BSSC, BSSD, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Defenseman Cam Fowler has five assists in a three-game point streak for the Ducks (27-22-9), who start a five-game road trip coming off a 3-2 overtime win against the San Jose Sharks on Sunday. Forward Patrick Kane has scored 11 points (six goals, five assists) in the past six games for the Blackhawks (20-29-8), who have lost three of four.
Washington Capitals at Calgary Flames (9 p.m. ET; SNW, NBCSWA, ESPN+, NHL LIVE)
Capitals center Nicklas Backstrom is three points from 1,000 in the NHL. The 34-year-old has scored 997 points (262 goals, 735 assists) in 1,035 NHL games. Flames forward Johnny Gaudreau has scored nine points (three goals, six assists) in a five-game point streak as has teammate Elias Lindholm (four goals, five assists).